Latch handle



March 28, 1944. L, TgMAs 2,345,304

LATCH HANDLE Filed NOV. 14, 1941 IN VEN TOR uLYcscsacs THO/VH6 B1 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PAIENT OFFICE I .2,s45,304 V t A LATCH HANDLE I I Ulysses L.- Thomas, Detroit, Mick assign onto Chrysler Corporation, HighlandPark, ll iich a acorpora tion of Delaware h Application November l l, .deria lNoAlSfifill w re; chem-eh) The present invention relates to a latch handle for an automobile door or the like. The object of the present invention is to form a latch handle of sturdy construction from sheet material, 1

thereby savin die casting metal which has greater utility in other applications. The present invention permits the use of a much smaller amount of metal in the construction of door handles than has been heretofore thought possible.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily ascertainable from an inspection of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspectiv view of an automobile having a door handle of the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the door handle of the present invention taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the door handle of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the members formin the door handle;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the complementary dOOr handle forming member and associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line l'l of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of Fig. 2.

The door handle of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral ID in Fi l and comprises inner and outer channel members H and I2, respectively. The inner channel member II has its web portion I3 extended angularly outward close to each end to meet the outer edges of the flanges M, th outwardly extending portions thus forming a tip end wall l5 and a base end wall IS. The base end wall [6 is of relatively large extent and is provided with a tongue I! extending beyond the flanges l4 and raised slightly from the plane of the base. The outer channel member I2 has inwardly extendin flanges 20 so shaped as to embrace the flanges H of the inner channel member, and its web portion 2| is provided with protruding tangs 22 and 23. The tangs are adapted to be engaged about the end walls of the inner channel member as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8, thereby locking the channel members in assembled relation, in

which assembled relation the channel members 'form a tubular operating lever. ---'Ihe end wall I8, which is of relatively large extent, is fastened to the surface of a trim piece 30 adapted to bear against the bearing rib 3| of an escutcheon plate 32, or similar bearing surfaces. Both the end wall it and the trim plate 38 are'pi'erced to receive the rectangular end of a latch operating lever 33, the inner end of which is fastened to the flanges I4 of the inner channel member Ii as by means of spot welds 34. The end wall It is likewise fastened to the trim piece 39 as by means of spot Welds 3-5. The raised tongue ll permits insertion of the tang 22, which may be preset in the position shown in Fig. 4, between the surfaces of the end wall and the trim plate. Thereafter, the other tang 23 may be bent around the other end wall I5.

The convenable sheet metal parts of the improved handle can be conveniently finished by plating, painting, or in any suitable manner while they are disassembled and thereafter assembled, the particular attaching means by which they are held together being so constructed and arranged as to avoid injuring the finish applied prior to assembly.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of modifications in arrangement and detail. All such modifications as come within the scope of the following claims are considered to be a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. A latch handle for an automobile door or the like comprising an inner channel member having a web and substantially parallel flanges extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the web, the ends of the web being extended angularly outward close to each end to meet the outer edges of the flanges, the angularly extended portions thus forming a tip end wall and a base end wall, and a complementary outer channel member having side flanges shaped to embrace the flanges of the inner channel member whereby said channel members together form a tubular operating lever, the free edge portions of the side flanges of said outer channel member being disposed in planes substantially parallel to the registering side flange portions of said inner channel member and terminating between the lateral extremities of the latter side flanges said outer channel member having protruding tangs at each end of its web adapted to be engaged about said end walls of said inner channel member to lock the channel members in assembled relation.

2. A latch handle for an automobil door or the like comprising an inner channel member having a web and substantially parallel flanges extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the web, the ends of the Web new: extended angularl'y outward close to each end to meet the outer edges of the flanges, the angularly extended portions thus forming a tip end wall and a base end wall, a complementary outer channel member having its flanges shaped to embrace the flanges of the inner channel member whereby said channel members together form n tubular operating lever, said outer channel memher having protruding tangs at each end *of its web adapted to be engaged about said end walls of said inner channel member to lock the channel members in assembled relation, said base wall being of relatively large extent and having an opening therethrough, and a :latch-opemting rod extending through said opening and having its end portion fixed to the flanges'of said inner a channel member having its flanges shaped to embrace the flanges of the inner channel mem- "ber wherby-saidchannel members together form a tubular operating lever, said outer channel member having protruding tangs at each end of its web adapted to be engaged about said end walls of said inner channel member to lock zthe channel :members in assembled relation, said base end wall being of relatively large extent and having an opening therethrough, a latch operating vrod extending through said opening r and having its end portion fixed to the flanges of said inner channel member, and a trim plate, through which said operating rod extends, fl-xed to the :surface of said base end wall,, the tip "of said -base end wall being raised .from thesurof the trim plate adjacent thereto in order .to permit the insertion of the tang of the outer channel member vassociated therewith between 

